Dispensing device



Jan. 7, WBQQ RENEE 1 742 3155 DISPENE ING DEVI CE Filed July 18. 1928 I attomwq Patented Jan. 7, 1930 Uhttt ti rrEs PATENT OFFICE HARRY M. names, or new roan, N. 1., ASSIGNOR TO nnnvnnrnonocrs, me, or

nnw "roan, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK DISPENSING DEVICE Application filed July 18,

The subject-matter of the present invention relates to dispensing devices, and the improvements are directed to a novel and unique form of condiment holder, or the like, adapted for kitchen and table use.

The invention contemplates the provision of means in the form of a reciprocatory plunger having a headed portion adapted to positively close the usual discharge throat of a condiment holder and thus preclude the entrance of moisture or the like, and toobviate the coagulation of the contained material.

Another object is to provide means in the form of a closure member uniquely formed to cooperate with said plunger to effect the object aforesaid. Still another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary orsupplemental closure member adapted for partial emergence within a container or receptacle, and being formed to provide guide means for the lower end of said plunger during its reciprocation.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a spider-like mem- -1ber, presenting a plurality ofradially disposed arms and carried by sald plunger, and

adaptedto cooperate and distribute the material passing through certain openings in said supplemental closure member prior to its discharge around the unseated headed portion of said plunger.

a A still further object is to provide a specially formed headed portion for said plunger, said headed portion possessing the requisite Weight and proportion to create a jarring effect upon the closure member and its associated parts to loosenup the granulations and for breaking up the accumulated lumps thus providing and delivering finely granulated material.

1 A still further object resides in the unique formation of said headed portion to provide a thindine peripheral contact between the same and its associated closure member for the purpose of preventing the lodgment of any granulations of the material about this contact point to interfere with the accurate tight seating of saidheaded portion.

The invention is further featured by the production of an article of the above-men- 1928. Serial No. 293,647.

tioned character, which is simple in construction, easily assembled and disassembled, and further readily accessible for cleansing to assure a sanitary article.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings:

Figure l 1 is an elevation of a condiment holder equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of a condiment holder illustrating the cooperation of the several component parts to effect the sealing of said holder.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention removed from the container. a

Fig. 4% is an inverted plan View of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view like unto Fig. 4, with the supplemental closure member-removed to expose the spider-like member.

Fig. .6 is a view like unto Fig. 2, but illustrating the device in operation with the headed portion unseated from the main closure member.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of ref Fig. 2) The supplemental or auxiliary 010- sure member 16 is provided with a flat marginal flange 17, adapted to rest on the upper surface of said end portion 11, and having its central portion depressed to define a con0idal portion 18, reversely arranged with respect to the conoidal section 14, aforesaid. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, said conoidal portion 18 is provided with a series of slots 19, which radiate from a central opening 20 forming a bearing for the lower portion of a reciprocatory plunger 21. The upper end of said plunger 21 is provided with a conical headed portion 22, which normally has its extreme upper peripheral portion contacting the sides of said conical section 14 to seal the opening 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At the juncture of said headed portion 22 and said plunger 21 is positioned a spider-like member 23, comprising a plurality of radiating arms 24, (see Fig. and adapted to operate within and distribute the particles of material passing through said conoidal section 14, as will presently appear.

In assembling the structure described hereinbefore, said supplemental closure member 16 is placed over the mouth of the receptacle, or container, 10, with the marginal flange 1'? resting on the top surface of the end portion 11, as shown in Fig. 2, the main closure member. 12, carrying the reciprocatory plunger 21, and its associated parts, is now'screwed onto the threaded portion of the container to clamp the parts in the position shown in said figure. As observed, the headed portion 22 drops by gravity and peripherally seals the top opening of said closure member 12, thus precluding the entrance of moisture into the container. In view of the thin-line contact between said headed portion and the sides of the conoidal section 14, the accumulation of material at this point is obviated which would not be the case in the event a real surface contact was present as in most of the standard articles.

In the use of the article, the container is inverted to substantially the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the plunger and associated parts drop to the location indicated,

thus unseating the said headed portion 22 and permitting the escape of the condiment by way of the exposed opening 15. In this position the movement of said plunger is guided by the bearing disposed centrally of said slots 19 through which the condiment escapes through the opening 15 by way of the conoidal sections in said closure members 14 and 16. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that the ends of said arms 24 contact the sides of the conoidal section 14 to limit the travel of said plunger 21, and further serve to distribute the passing condiment to assure a uniform discharge at the opening 15.

As is quite manifest the several parts may be readily disassembled to permit cleansing thereof, especially the supplemental closure member 16, which may be lifted from the container, after the removal of closure member 12, for the obvious purpose of opening the clogged slots 19 when necessary. As pointed out hereinbefore said headed portion is con structed relatively heavy in order to literally pound or jar the closure members to unseat any accumulations of material in the conoidal sections. Of course, the contacting of the ends of the arms 24 of said spider-like member 23 materially decreases the likelihood of accumulations during the reciprocation or use of the article.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have developed an article admirably adapted to prevent the entrance of moisture into the material deposited in the container and in view of the bearing for said plunger 21 the reciprocation of the parts in the conoidal sections is positive and assures an accurate closing and sealing of the opening 15 upon returning the article to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While the present is a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without depart-ing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An article of the class described including a container, a closure member carried by said container and having its top portion struckup to present an upwardly converging conoidal section presenting an opening, a second closure member borne by said container and having a depression extending into said container and presenting a conoidal portion arranged reversely to said first-named conoidal section, said top portion and said depression forming a chamber, said second-named closure member having a plurality of slots radiating from a central opening, a plunger adapted to be reciprocated in said central opening and having a conoidal headed portion adapted to peripherally contact said converging conoidal section in said first-named closure member to close the opening therein, and spider-like means borne by said plunger and operable in said chamber, the extermities of said spider-like means being adapted to contact the inner sides of said upwardly converging conoidal section to crush any lumped 1 material passing therethrough.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

HARRY M. REINER. 

